Leading vegetable growers, industry and federal political figures gathered at northern Tasmania on 15 April to address the key challenges facing the vegetable industry during the AUSVEG Future-Proofing the Fresh Vegetable Supply Chain Forum.
The Australian vegetable industry reaches a tipping point, and commitments are urgently needed from all political parties and candidates to secure the future of a sector that is critical to national food security. This event is an opportunity for federal politicians and candidates to deliver those commitments ahead of the 3 May federal election, with Coalition, Labor, Jacqui Lambie Network, Australian Greens, and independent representatives all in attendance.
AUSVEG CEO Michael Coote said the forum is an opportunity for political representatives to speak directly to leading vegetable growers about their key challenges and issues, and to commit to leadership and measures that secure the future of a national industry that produces 98 per cent of the fresh vegetables bought and consumed in Australia.
“The challenges of recent years have clearly taken a toll on vegetable growing businesses – with rising input costs, declining returns, reduced productivity, and a volatile business environment pushing many to breaking point,” Mr Coote said.
“The 2025 federal election represents a pivotal moment for Australia’s vegetable industry, with decisions and commitments made in the next few weeks having the potential to set the course for our sector for the years ahead.
“This forum is a major opportunity for growers in our industry to speak directly with decision makers and political influencers about the future of vegetable production in Australia, and secure commitments that support both the viability of Australia’s vegetable industry, and our national food security.
“Today’s discussions must be backed with tangible action and commitments from politicians and candidates, before it is too late for a vegetable industry that Tasmania and Australia depends upon.”
With AUSVEG Industry Sentiment Surveys since 2023 repeatedly showing sentiment in the sector has hit and stayed at rock-bottom levels, the forum will address the major challenges facing Australian and Tasmanian vegetable growers, and solutions to the industry’s key issues.
AUSVEG’s most recent survey from January again showed one in three growers are considering leaving the industry in the next year, and that an additional third would go if offered a fair price for their farm.
Amid the wider cost-of-living crisis, Australian and Tasmanian vegetable, potato and onion growers are facing their own cost-of-production crisis, compounded by difficulties securing viable farmgate returns, ongoing workforce shortages, compliance overload, a lack of funds to invest in innovation and critically low vegetable consumption among Australians.
To address these challenges, AUSVEG last November launched its 2025 Federal Election Priorities which outline 21 actionable commitments needed from all parties and candidates contesting the election – and which will form a key focus of discussions at the forum.
These include a $125 million, five-year investment in a consumer behaviour change campaign to boost vegetable consumption by one serve per-person, per-day by 2030, alongside initiatives to shore-up national food security, cut compliance and governance overload, address major skills and workforce shortages and promote business investment and opportunities.